By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist Once again, the issue of breaching the Snake River dams is back on the table. On Sept. 30, 2016, the federal government announced more than a dozen public hearings on the scoping process for a new Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for 14 dams in the Columbia River Basin. The 14 dams within the Columbia River ... Read More »
From the Capital Press The Washington Supreme Court’s ruling in Whatcom County vs. Hirst could shut down rural homebuilding statewide, a lobbyist for farm groups and other water users said Thursday at a House hearing. “The more I listen to people discuss the Hirst case, the more convinced I am that there will be no growth in the rural area ... Read More »
Back in September, the wheat industry organizations from Washington, Oregon and Idaho sent a letter to Brandon Willis, administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency (RMA), asking the agency to waive rules that require elevators to report falling number discounts that will be used against a producer’s yield, especially when no crop insurance claim is being filed. On ... Read More »
With recent scoping meetings on the Columbia River operating systems, Washington Association of Wheat (WAWG) growers have shown their support by submitting letters to the editor to various newspapers. The following was submitted by Bob Walli, Adams County wheat grower and WAWG board member. Dear Editor, With the renewed interest in the Columbia River Operating System, this is a great opportunity ... Read More »
At the Washington Association of Wheat Growers annual awards banquet, the 2016-17 officers were nominated and elected into office. We would like to congratulate the new slate of officers! Ben Adams, President (Coulee City, Wash.) Marci Green, Vice President (Fairfield, Wash.) Jeff Shawver, Secretary/Treasurer (Connell, Wash.) Kevin Klein, Past President (Edwall, Wash.) Read More »
Released November 17, 2016 As scoping meetings on the federal Columbia River Power System continue throughout the region, The Washington Association of Wheat growers reiterates its opposition to any consideration of breaching the Snake River dams. The Snake River dams are part of the Columbia-Snake River System, a 465-mile river waterway that is the top wheat export gateway in the ... Read More »
Below is a summary compiled by Washington Association of Wheat Growers’ lobbyist Diana Carlen of the election results in Washington state as of last night. There are still a number of votes to count in the coming days. Governor Inslee has easily been reelected to a second term. We are also likely to continue to have split control in the Legislature ... Read More »
It was a back-to-business type of board meeting for the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) in October with updates on state and regional issues and the upcoming convention taking center stage. The falling number (FN) issue is still on many growers’ minds, especially when it comes to the Risk Management Agency’s (RMA) reporting rules on FN discounts. WAWG’s Executive ... Read More »
Two high school seniors have been selected to represent Washington wheat farmers and will serve as the Washington Wheat Ambassadors for the upcoming year. Tessa Jantz of Ritzville and Nicholas Schultheis of Colton were selected after an initial written application process that also included submitting a short introductory video. Jantz and Schultheis will each be giving a speech at the ... Read More »
Editor’s note: Sometimes, elections seem to be a remote thing that just happens and is unconnected to agriculture. Not this year. With the 2018 Farm Bill peeping over the horizon, the choices Washington wheat farmers make in November could impact their livelihood far beyond the next two to four years. While most of the farm bill action will take place ... Read More »
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